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After arriving in the Bay last week, I was pleasantly surprised to learn I’d be around for Pride. I had no idea what to expect but the festivities far exceeded any expectations. Never have I witnessed an event captivate a community like Pride. Local business, large corporations, organizations and even celebrities (Oh hey OITNB!) put together extravagant displays to show their support in the parade. Families of all ages lined the streets to watch the beautiful displays of love pass by. I mean, how cool is that? Can you imagine growing up in the middle of such a powerful human right’s movement? I left so inspired by my new community and their contagious passion for change.

Large family, 1 boat, 7 days. Recipe for disaster? We may have had our doubts in the beginning, but the trip proved to be one of the best family vacations yet. Each day, was a new water to sail with a new isle to explore. With over 60 islands in reach there was never a shortage of things to do.

We geocached for treasure, snorkeled reefs and did some of the most beautiful scuba divining I’ve ever seen. A major highlight was diving the Rhone, a world famous shipwreck that went down in 1867. At night we switched off between cooking on the boat and dining on the islands. Each restaurant we’d take turns ordering a “pain killer”, the trademark BVI drink. Turns out, the best ones came from our very own captain!

Airport bound. Like most people, I’m always searching for that balance between comfortable lounge-wear and jet-setter chic. As I depart on to my next adventure in San Francisco I turned to my harem pants. Though everyone seems to have an opinion about the baggy pant style (even I had my fair share of eye-rolling), the harem style has grown on me. Besides being ridiculously comfortable, these bad boys are the ticket to pull off an effortless look.

Last night I attended a lecture on The History of Fashion (Pre-Industrial Revolution) at the Phoenix Art Museum. I opted for some funky high waisted shorts for comfortable wear in the hot Tempe heat. Plus, they were way too much fun to dress up.

I was always a whimsical child growing up, preferring tutus and colorful fairy wings to regular clothes. Though I stick to more neutral colors these days, that same playful spirit still makes its way into my closet from time to time. So when the “flower child” trend began showing up, the little girl in me jumped at the chance to wear those same whimsical tutus again. Though I’ve had this tulle skirt for over a year now, it’s still one of my favorite pieces to style from edgy to chic.

Well, I’m home in America! And while it may be 100 degrees outside, my London attitude still dominates my closet. Although most Arizonans opt for minimal clothing in the summer, I’ve found retrp midi-skirts to be my best friend. I welcomed the extra length as an alternative to the micro-micro skirts usually seen around the city. Plus they protect my legs from hot leather car seats and the scorching rays outside.

My last hurrah before ending this incredible semester abroad. To be honest, I didn’t’ have high expectations for the city. From my experience, people have a strict love/hate relationship with the Parisian culture and I was ready for the latter. But upon arrival, I fell in love with the late night cafes and French lifestyle. Although much of the city was alluringly over-the-top (ahem, Versailles), the Parisian’s effortless spirit created the most charming atmosphere.

On our first morning we traveled to Versailles and paid our dues as weekend tourists. The ornate walls, gardens, glistening chandeliers, banisters, gates, plated gold details—no words can do it all justice.

Later we headed to Notre Dame and the infamous lovelock bridge. The cathedral, famous for it’s stunning stained glass didn’t disappoint. The lovelock was a sight as couples eternalized their love on the bridge. We settled down in the park nearby with some fresh Laudree Macrons, a classic bottle of wine and baguette. The accordion player in the background was an added bonus!

The next day I ventured to the Louvre for an afternoon of Italian Renaissance and Egyptian artifacts. Not before sunbathing next to the beautiful fountain outside for a bit though.

That night we made out way to the Eiffel tower for part du of our picnic day. As we finished our wine and baguettes, we watched the shimmering eiffel tower show. What a night indeed.